temptalia must haves

The best in beauty products that have truly stood the test of time. Tried and true, these still rock.

Calvin Klein Delicious Light Glistening Lip Gloss ($17.00) was a surprising discovery I made during last year’s Friends & Family sale at Sephora. I impulsively purchased Maven lip gloss, and I was quite pleased with it when I received it. In fact, I liked it so much, I went to my local Sephora and picked up three more — Knockout, Taffy, and Radar (at full price, even!). Shimmery, fairly pigmented glosses with exceptional glossiness and smooth texture. It didn’t feel sticky to me, but it wasn’t slipping off my lips either. Available at Sephora.com.

Yes To Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butters ($3.69) is one of those brands I find cute, affordable, and reliable. I’ve never not loved a Yes To Carrots product. They have a whole slew of flavors from Citrus (my personal favorite!), Melon, Berry, Carrot, and Mint. Super hydrating, deliciously scented, and lightly glossy. These just melt like butter on your lips. Available at Drugstore.com.

The best in beauty products that have truly stood the test of time. Tried and true, these still rock.

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick ($34.00) come in eighteen creamy, sexy shades. (YSL’s Fall 2009 Collection will add four more shades to the line-up.) I believe I own about seven or eight of the available shades, and I adore them. This is my favorite lipstick formula, because each lipstick is extremely creamy, richly pigmented, glossy, and hydrating. I eagerly await the unveiling of the new shades for fall! Available at Nordstrom and Sephora.com.

Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara ($30.00) is a mascara I often reach for since I’ve tried it. I love the intensity of the black, the length it gives, and it doesn’t clump up too easily. It’s a bit pricey, but I do really like the formula and what it does to my lashes. It almost edges out my beloved MAC Plushlash mascara, but the price makes it not quite as fabulous. Available at Nordstrom.

The best in beauty products that have truly stood the test of time. Tried and true, these still rock.

MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($19.00) was a product that was nearly HG (holy grail) status. Of course, it was limited edition. Of course, I did not think to stock up at the time. Actually, if my memory is at all reliable, I intended to stock up only to discover they were sold out everywhere. Re-reading my original review actually says as much! Love, love, LOVE this stuff. I am desperately hoping the rumors are true, and we will see the return of my beloved VAE this fall/winter. C’mon MAC!

NARS Hydrating Moisture Cream ($72.00 for 3.4 oz.) is still a go-to moisturizer for me. I tend to use at night, because it is quite hydrating and often is a bit more moisture than I need in the AM. (Plus, it doesn’t have SPF, so I tend to opt for a moisturizer with built-in SPF — this is not really a make-or-break point for me, though.) I often alternate this with NARS Aqua-Gel Hydrator (which I love equally as much as this one — so all the things I said about the Moisture Cream, I say about the Aqua-Gel!). If you didn’t know, Shiseido owns NARS, and Shiseido is known for their skincare. In order to build up a reputation and grab market share in Asia, your brand must excel at skincare — that’s just where the focus is. I feel like NARS’ skincare products are often overlooked, but they are excellent and definitely worth trying. Available at Nordstrom and Sephora.com.

The best in beauty products that have truly stood the test of time. Tried and true, these still rock.

One question I am frequently asked is, “What are you still using? Do you still love what you loved a month ago?” Both good and bad, I am forever on the hunt for the next newest thing. This means even when I love a product, I’m often trying out something else, though it doesn’t diminish my love in the least bit! I thought I’d dig through the review archive and pull out some products that are still hardworking favorites and have earned their place in my beauty space.

Osmotics Cream Extreme Barrier Repair ($75.00 for 1.7 oz.) is still my go-to for ultra dry patches on my face. After using Retin-A for a few months several years ago, the skin above my upper lip became extremely sensitive to products, and it tends to get dry and flaky as often as the wind changes directions. (It is also incredibly annoying!) Thankfully, Cream Extreme works immediately and tends to minimize any cracking skin in that area for me. I do find it a pricier cream, so I personally use it as a spot treatment for dry patches. It is likely too moisturizing for me to use all over my face on a regular basis. However, if you have dry to ultra dry skin, you might find this a savior. The best place to purchase Osmotics’ products is at Nordstrom.

Prescriptives Instant Gratification Skin Renewal Peel($45.00) is one of my absolute favorite chemical masks/facial treatments. It makes your skin and look fantastic right after you’ve used it. I was really wow-ed by this product from the first application to the umpteeth application. Funny enough, this review was written in January 2008, and I am still on my first tube. I’d say there’s at least 20-30 usages per tube. (It just goes to show you that I’m regularly trying other face masks… but when I really need and want one to work, I know where to turn.) Available at Nordstrom and Prescriptives.

8 Must-Have MAC (PRO) Pigments

About the Temptalia Must-Haves SeriesA series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier.Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Pink Pearl pigment is a gorgeous duochrome pigment that is both fuchsia-pink and fuchsia-purple. Think Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow, but prettier, more pigmented, and brighter.

Kelly Green pigment is a bright pop of springy green. Perfect to add brightness to any look, and it works particularly well as a green base.

True Chatreuse pigment is a matte, yellow-y green. It’s like Bitter, but insanely better, because it’s a lot more pigmented and opaque.

Naval Blue pigment is a dark, navy blue with a bit of cobalt reflects in it. Very pretty and dark.

8 Must-Have MAC (Consumer) Pigments

About the Temptalia Must-Haves SeriesA series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier.Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Old Gold pigment is a stunning combination of yellowed green and green-gold mixed together. It’s an interesting mix of green and gold with a little bit of brown. This is a particularly good pigment for those with warmer tones in their skin.

Teal pigmentis exactly as it is named — teal. It’s pigmented, smooth, and looks rich on eyes.

Golden Lemon pigment is a bright pop of yellow gold with lots of frost in its finish. It’s not necessarily a product for those who don’t love shimmer/frost in their eye products, but it is one of the best bases to use for gold, orange, and red eyeshadows.